It's very interesting how logic and self protection develops in a little person. It's one of those gradual and very individual processes. When there's victory--positive cognitive progress--we celebrate and own it due to a 'superior genetic pool' and when there's not,..well..we see the in-laws at work. "I don't have anything to do with that", we tell ourselves.
By all accounts the process of this 'development of logic' seems laboriously s..l..o..w. It's really not, and we know this, but when you are responsible for some very basic oversights on the part of your little one every day experiences slow way down.
Why do children Want to play in the street??? Why, when they are walking with you at the edge of the road do they yearn to wander into the middle?? There's nothing in the middle of the road that's interesting anyway? All that nasty debris that they love so much is at the edge of the road by the curb!? You would think that evolution would've weeded out this tendency long ago not giving the mind any say so in it, but alas it is not so. It's a wonder that we have made it this far. Well, children are pretty much made of cartiledge, thankfully. That is, most assuredly an evolutionary move for, at least, durability and too improve the chances of a future generation!
At times it's funny. At other times it's scary. Then there are those times when you are genuinely shocked. It's like it's a game with this little person. For a while you kind of do feel like you are their defensive lineman and they are running offense with none other but The World. They feel it is their job, I guess, to test out gravity Every day--to make sure that what hurt yesterday does, in fact Still hurt today. I want to know when that memory of pain starts sticking. I mean, Really, because it will make my job much easier.
My daughter, 2 yrs. old at this point has been very fortunate when it comes to physical accidents and injury. She went to the ER only once, so far, about 6 wks. ago. She slipped while jumping on the couch (which we forbid) and landed on her brow with all her weight on the edge of the coffee table. She had put her hands out but the airspace between the couch and coffee table failed to brace her fall. She turned out to be fine, but looked like a Klingon for about a week. She told the dramatic story over and over for a few weeks, but now she has managed to forget about the event as we are back to stoping her from hurting herself and reminding her of the trauma. It's funny and not so funny.
I was talking recently with a mother who has several little ones of her own about my plight and she said, "It's amazing how long it actually takes for them to put it together.... Much longer than you'd think." This was not really what I wanted to hear, but I was thankful for her honesty, as painfully truthful as it was. :)
I'm not naieve however, and I know as sure as the sun rises and sets that the 'defensive lineman' part that I play for my daughter will Never stop: the nature and focus of it will change though as she moves through her stages. I'm ready and I'm committed. ...Just wait 'till the suitors come. I think I'll enjoy that role.
Peace is what you get when you pay no mind to mind.